Float switch



' swt. 29, 193e.' Mmmm, 655501 FLOAT SWITCH Filed April 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTR. i BY 6% Wm f www ATTORNEY.

C. MORROW FLOAT SWITCH Sept 29, 1936.

Filed April 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE FLOAT SWITCH a corporation of Ohio Application April 27, 1932, Serial No. 607,765

4 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid treating aD- paratus of the type in which a heat transfer medium circulates through pipes over which the liquid to be treated, flows. In the use of the term liquid I have particularly in mind milk and cream, but other liquids may be treated. The apparatus herein disclosed is adapted to cool the milk to a relatively low temperature, whereby it may be stored in bulk, bottled for distribution or otherwise used.

One object of the invention is to provide in a cooling apparatus having a circulating system for a volatile liquid refrigerant, improved means for controlling the supply of the liquid ammonia to the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a cooling apparatus having a circulating system for a liquid refrigerant having a relatively low boiling point, an improved float controlled valve operating mechanism which is relatively simple and positive in operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, embodying my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sections on the lines 2 2 and 3 3 of Fig. 1, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section showing a modified form of construction.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a frame work, preferably comprising a pair of spaced members la, la, preferably formed from bars or piping Ib suitably connected together by braces lc, lc', and supported on adjustable caps Ic.

2 indicates as an entirety the circulating means for a heat transfer medium or mediums. The circulating means 2 is preferably arranged in vertically disposed sections or units 2', 2, whereby diferent mediums may be used. In the construction shown, the unit 2 is constructed to utilize liquid ammonia.

The unit 2' consists of headers 2a, 2a, connected by pipes 2b, one header 2a being connected at its lower end with a cold water or brine supply pipe 2c Aand to a discharge pipe 2d for such cooling medium leading from its upper end.

(Cl. 20D-84) The unit 2' may be constructed and mounted similar to one of the units 2 shown and described in the U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,352,215, granted Sept. 7, 1920, to Leroy S. Pfouts.

Of the unit 2", 3, 4, indicate headers and 5 indicates a series of pipes disposed in the same vertical plane and the plane of the pipes 2b and leading through the side walls of the headers, these parts being rigidly connected in any well known manner. The upper end of the header 4 is provided with a boss 6 in which is screwed a rod or pipe section '1. The outer end of the section 'l is mounted in the adjacent brace Lc to support one end of the unit. The opposite end of the unit is supported in a similar manner, except that the pipe section, indicated at 8, registers at its inner end with an opening formed in the header 3 and its outer end leads through the adjacent brace lc and is connected to the intake of a compressor (not shown), whereby the vapors generated in the unit 2" are withdrawn therefrom. The pipe 8 is provided with a back pressure valve (not shown) operable to control the temperature in the unit 2". The header 4 extends down below the pipes 5 to form a reservoir 4 for the liquid ammonia. The liquid ammonia is supplied from the reservoir 4 to the pipes 5, except the uppermost and lowermost pipes (designated 5a, 5b), in the manner to be later set forth. The pipe 5a forms an escape conduit for vapors flowing from the pipes 5 and rising in the header 4 and conducts them to the header 3, from which such vapors and those rising in header 3 ow through the conduit 8 to the compressor. The pipe 5b forms a return conduit for liquid ammonia flowing from the pipe 5 into the header 3. The opposite ends of the intermediate pipes 5 extend laterally into the headers 3, 4, and their ends are provided with vertical walls l0, each extending upwardly preferably to a plane co-incident to the axis of the adjacent pipe; also, by preference, the end portions of each pipe, within the headers and above the walls ID, are cut away, as shown at Il, to facilitate the supply of ammonia into the pipe and the discharge of it and vapors therefrom. By providing each pipe 5 with end walls, it forms a holder to retain a predetermined amount of liquid ammonia therein, but as the pipe is open above the walls E9, the liquid may be readily and continuously supplied to the pipe and the excess liquid may overflow into either or both headers 3, 4, from which it may return to the lower end of the header 4, the return from the header 3 being through the pipe 5b. The side wall of the header 4, above its bottom end wall I2, is formed with an opening I3. I4 is a casing, forming a chamber, having its open end secured in a gas and liquid tight manner to the walls forming the opening i3. The casing I4 forms an enclosure for a iioat controlled mechanism I5, to which a iioat i6 is connected, such mechanism controlling a valve l1 mounted in a supply pipe I 8. The pipe I8 leads froma. source of liquid ammonia supply and is. connected inv a suitable manner to the header 4. The casing i4 is related to the pipe 5b in such position that.

the level of the liquid ammonia in the lower portion of the header 4 or reservoir 4' may be main'- tained below the return pipe 5b. The float I6 and mechanism I5 controlled' therebyY are arranged to maintain a substantially predetermined supply of liquid ammonia in the reservoir, or system by automatically opening and closing: the

Valve; for example, when the liquid level in, the.

reservoir drops, due to the liquid ammonia being transformedv into vapor, the iloat I Ei4 causes Ythe opening ot the: valve; ll to: admit additional ammoniaV into the` system and when: the. level` rises to the predetermined level, the oat: causes' the closing or the valve; that is to say;` the: float I6 Willi operate'the mechanism [57, which in turn will close' and` open` arr electric circuit lzS'.. The. cir'- cuit I9; when closed, energizesA the: winding ofY a suitableY solenoid, in'. a housingv 2D; thef core for the solenoid beingfconnected to. the: valve element ofthe valve il andi serving to open the. latter. Upon: the:` rise of. the ammonia in; the header 4', the. float.y will break ,ther circuit I :9i andy dei-energize the solenoid coil, and thus.' permit. the valve lill to close.. The float. controlled; mechanism comprises abox or holder2l havingtrunnions 2l' mounted ina pair of. supports; Zia, 2in, preferably consisting' of. vertical bars formedv integrally with the walls oi the 'casing IA", the bars. being: provided with. removable plates 22 formingA with the bars suitable. bearings for the trunnions 2Ii.` The trunnions 2.! are` hollow andi extend through@ the sides of the-*box 2 Ii (see Fig. 6) for a purposel'ater set forth. The frameZ I isprovided' Witha cover 2lb', which issealed to the walls of! the box, in any suitablefmanner, toprevent'- leakage of ammonia thereinto'. The cover 2Ibis omitted@ in Fig. 3f. The bottom of the box 2:12 supports a cradle 23, in which is removably mounted? a Inercury' tubeV 2'4 having contacts 241" connected' to leads 25l for the circuit' I9`. The inner en'd wall of the box 2lV carries a rigid5 arm Z-S to the outer end of which is connected' the 'oat I6. 2"! indicates liquid andgas tight' enclos-ure means for the l'eads 2li andi extending from'. the-contacts 24? to a point exterior of the box 2 If. Such enclosure meansinclu'd'e the hollow trunnions- 2| whereby the leads are sealed against contactl With the ammonia and' parts or devices movable through openings in thecasing I'Llor header 4- are avoided; The enclosureJ means comprise a pair of tubes or pipes 2l" eachA coiled as shown, the inner end of' each pipebeing suitably secured in a dia-metrically extending opening formed in one of the trunnions 2?!" and the outer end portion of the pipe extending through an opening 28' formed in the rear` or end wall of the casing Il?. As shown, the trunnions` 2 I" are hollow and the leads 25 ex tend therethrough andi through openings formed in the side walls of the pipesiZ'l into the latter and then longitudinally through the pipes tothe outer side of the casing i4', Vwhere theyV are connected to the remainingV wires forming the circuit I9: The outer end portions ofthe pipes 21' areseated'in the openings 28 in any suitable manner, as by soldering, to make the casing le gas and liquid tight. Where the material of which the pipes 21 are formed does not admit of soldering, any suitable joint, one example of which is shown in Fig. 7, may be used. This form of construction eliminates openings leading through the header l and casing I4, or any construction making it necessary to use. glands. The pipes 2?.' are reversely coiled with respect to each other, so that in the event of expansion or contraction, the resulting stress on one pipe Will be equalized by the stress on the other pipe; also, the pipes 2l' may bei made of resilient metal the effect of which will be to restrain undue movement oi the box 2| in either direction.

By trunnioning the box 2 I, I provide a balanced support for the float I6, whereby the latter is readiiy operated by the rise and fall of the ammonia,.such arrangement being advantageous on account of the relatively low specic gravity of the ammonia. By reasony ofi such mounting, the Weightof theouter end of thebox 2l may be readilyv increased; or decreased. and effect the desired counterbalance: with respectk to the iioat i8. In normal' position, the level of the ammonia in the reservoir 4 serves to tilt the frame 2i slightly upwardly at' its inner end; but if this level drops, the float movesv downwardly therewith and tilts the tube;V 241 tor eiect closing! of the circuit i3.

29 indicates a pump, preferably of the rotary type; andi comprising. a: casing 3i! xed to the Iower'endof the header i and a rotor 3Q' suitably mounted to rotate in the side walls of the casing. The inlet fior the casing is connected to a drain duct 3I for the liquid ammonia leading through the bottom Wall'of the header il. The outlet from the'casing is connected to a riser 32 leading upwardly through the header 4, the rotor 3B of the pump serving to force the liquid ammonia upwardly through the riser. The riser is formed with a plurality of discharge ports 32', one opposite and slightly above the adjacent end wall I0 for' each-V pipe 5, so that the ammonia willY be discharged' into therl'atter. As the pump 29 is continuously driven, liquid ammonia is continuously supplied to the intermediate pipes 5, from which it flows into the headers 3, ll'; but by reason of the end walls IEI,l each of said pipes will retain a predetermined amount of the ammonia. As these pipes are open at their ends, the resulting vapors,

due to absorption of heat, may freely escape and pass through the pipe 8, without forming gas pockets.V The riser 32 is suitably mounted in the end walls of the header l and its upper end is closed. by a removable plug 33'.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the headers 3', 4, pipesr, riser 32 and pump mechanism 29.- constitutes a circulating system, and the pipes 8' and 5a provide for the escape of gases. or: vapors. As the pipes 5 are open at both ends, resulting vapors'may freely flow to either header and escape.

33 indicates a holder for the liquid to be treated. The holder 33. is removably supported in any desiredV manner above and extends longitudinally substantially from end` to end of the medium circulating4 means` 2. The holder 33 is provided with one orrmore series of openings 3 through which the liquid to be treated flows over suitable iiow or guide walls 34? onto the pipesZb of the medium circulating means 2. 3f indicates a cover for the holder 33';

The construction and mounting for the holder 33 andthe liquid distributing means therefrom 75 may be similar to like parts shown in the aforesaid patent.

The liquid to be treated is delivered to the holder 33 in any suitable manner. From the holder 33, the liquid flows by gravity over the pipes 2b, 5a, 5, 5b, successively from the upper to the lower one, from which it drops into a receiver 35. The receiver is provided with a suitable discharge pipe 5 to convey away the liquid. The receiver 35 is preferably supported at its opposite ends by lugs provided on the inner walls of the headers 3, 4.

The circulating units 2', 2", may be enclosed in a casing (a, portion of which is shown at 6D in Fig. 2) formed of sections, similar to those shown in the aforesaid patent.

The pump 29 may be driven by a suitable power mechanism, such as an electric motor. The motor and circuit therefor are not shown.

In operation, cold water or brine is caused to circulate through the pipes 2b of the unit 2 and the rotor 3Q' of the pump is set in operation to circulate liquid ammonia into and through the pipes 5. Milk is then delivered to the holder 33, from which it gravitates over the pipes 2b, 5a, 5 and 5b to the receiver 35. As the milk flows over the pipes 2b it is subjected to a cooling medium at one temperature and as the milk Ilows over the pipes 5a, 5 and 5b, it is subjected to a cooling medium having a lower temperature.

5x indicates deectors mounted on'each pipe 5a, 5 and 5b and serving to direct the gravitating liquid inwardly and prevent it from adhering to the walls of the headers 3, 4, due to capillary attraction.

It will be noted that the supply conduit or riser 32 extends upwardly in line with the pipes 5 and is provided with a port opposite each thereof, so that the ammonia is supplied to all of said pipes simultaneously.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the descripherein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid holding chamber adapted to be connected to an electrically operated supply means, of a float, a closed casing having hollow trunnions supported in said chamber and carrying a mercury tube having contacts to control the circuit for the supply means, and a pair of reversely coiled tubes having their inner ends connected to said trunnions, the outer end portions of said tubes extending through one Wall of said chamber, said trunnions and said tubes forming conduits for the leads from said contacts.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid holding chamber adapted to be connected with an electrically controlled supply means, of a closed casing mounted on trunnions within said chamber, one of said trunnions being hollow and extending into said casing, a float connected to said casing, a switch means within said casing and automatically operated to open and close the circuit for the supply means due to rise and fall of said float, and a pair of reversely coiled resilient members coiled substantially concentrically to said trunnions and connected thereto at their respective opposite ends and to the walls of said chamber, the member connected to said hollow trunnion being hollow and extending through the wall of said chamber and forming with said hollow trunnion a closed conduit for a lead from said switch means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a liquid holding chamber adapted to be connected to an electrically operated supply means, of a device movably mounted on the walls of said chamber and comprising a iioat and a closed casing, switch means mounted within said casing and automatically operated to open and close the circuit for the supply means due to rise and fall of said float, and enclosure means for that portion of the leads for said circuit leading from said switch means to a point exteriorly of said chamber, said enclosure means comprising hollow trunnions for said casing and reversely coiled tubes formed of resilient metal and having their inner ends connected to said trunnions, respectively, and their outer ends extending through the wall of said chamber.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a liquid holding chamber adapted to be connected to an electrically operated supply means, of a device movably mounted on the walls of said chamber and comprising a float and a support, a mercury switch mounted on said support and automatically operated to open and close the circuit for the supply means due to rise and fall of said float, and enclosure means for that portion of the leads for the circuit leading from said switch to a point exteriorly of said chamber, said enclosure means comprising hollow trunnions for said device and reversely coiled tubes formed of resilient metal and having their inner ends connected to said trunnions, respectively, and their outer ends extending through the wall of said chamber.

CLIFFORD MORROW. 

